The Aurora Theatre Company completes its 14th season with the Bay Area premiere of Permanent Collection. This provocative tale continues playwright Thomas Gibbons' examination of racial politics in America.
"The art museum of an eccentric millionaire has flourished for years, presenting artworks by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse," describes press notes, "But when the museum's board appoints a successful African-American businessman as director, he discovers a wealth of African art treasures in the museum's storage and a battle of ideologies is set in motion." Permanent Collection, directed by Robin Stanton, is inspired by the true controversies surrounding Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation and "explores opposing views of art, race, and culture, investigating an issue that is far from black and white."
Permanent Collection is currently running until July 23 at the Aurora Theatre, located at 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00PM, and Sundays at 2:00PM and 7:00PM. For tickets ($38) or subscriptions ($125-$185), call 510-843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.
Photos by David Allen
Sterling North (L. Peter Callender) shows reporter
Gillian Crane (Melissa Gray) an African idol
Paul Barrow (front Tim Kniffin) looks at his favorite
painting as Ella (Margarette Robinson) watches
L. Peter Callender and Tim Kniffin
Kanika Weaver (l, Karen Aldridge) and Paul Barrow ( r, Tim Kniffin)
chat as Sterling North (center l, L. Peter Callender) is interviewed by
reporter Gillian Crane (center r, Melissa Gray)
Tim Kniffin and L. Peter Callender star in Permanent Collection
Paul Barrow (front, Tim Kniffin) protests outside of
Sterling North's (back, L. Peter Callender) office
Paul Barrow (Tim Kniffin) discusses Monet with
Kanika Weaver (Karen Aldridge) while the ghost of
Alfred Morris (top, Robert Hamm) looks on
